Linebackers Timpf and King getting Spring ready for the 2016 season

Friday’s April 1st Army football spring practice was underway for 3rd year head coach Jeff Monken, his staff and of course the Black Knights squad at Howze Field.

Today’s practice consisted on helmets only with 18 designated periods that kicked-off 2 4:40pm under blue to cloudy skies, with temperatures hitting the 70 degree mark along with an end of practice rain downpour.

This is an exciting time for Monken and the program. Why you might ask? Well, there is plenty of young, but seasoned talent offensively with the 1-2 punch of Ahmad Bradshaw (junior) and Chris Carter (sophomore) battling for the start call at quarterback; along with returning 2015 team MVP and wide receiver Edgar Poe and not to mention the young talented stable of running back, like Campbell, Black, Asberry and Drake, who will be mixed in with veterans John Trainor and Joe Walker.

Of course on defense, defensive coordinator Jay Bateman has to be all smiles with almost the entire defense returning.

GoBlackKnights.com caught up with two stalwarts from the 2016 “D”, in senior linebackers Jeremey Timpf and his partner in crime in the middle, Andrew King.

The two seasoned defenders readily admitted that it felt great to be out there on Friday after being some cooped up inside all winter.

“Oh yeah, it definitely feels good to be out here and especially for some of us older guys, because you only get one senior season,” said Timpf, who will be back at his customary Will linebacker spot. “So, we want to start soon and early with our fundamentals and get the young guys going and have a good season.”

King’s seem to share the same sentiments as Timpf. “It’s great to be out here now and putting it altogether,” said the senior out of Queens Village (NY). “We had a really strong and hard off-season, strength and conditioning wise. We were doing captain’s practices, doing the morning workouts ... putting that all aside and trying to put it altogether on the field and actually to be playing football again is really great.”

Both players were quick to point out that there is a lot of optimism around the team, especially the defense.

“We lost two seniors and we really started a young defense last year and to have most of the guys coming back is really great,” explained the 6-foot-0, 246 pound King, who once again will starting at middle linebacker (MIke) position. “They know the system, they know what to expect and they know how close we came, where we were eight possessions short and we are trying to get those eight possessions now during the off-season, so when it comes to the real season we will put it altogether.”

“We’ve only lost two starting guys on our defense in T.J. Atimalala and Chris Carnegie, so we have a lot of players returning,” added Timpf, who served as one of Army’s 2015 team captains. “Last year we came together pretty well, but just this whole off-season and spring ball ... I think will be a good deal for us to get closer, work on our plays and fundamentals.”

As seasoned performers, Timpf and King agree that their established goals coming into spring ball would act as a launching pad into the 2016 season.

“We made some stupid plays on defense ... where I mean our games would be solid all around and then there would be a few plays that kind of crushed our spirits and stuff like that,” explained Timpf, who is out of Tucson (AZ). “So, my goal is to eliminate the big plays and focus on being more consistent with our defense.”

“I mean for myself, I’m really trying to get my teammates better, I want to be a better leader and try to push my teammates more,” shared King.

“But, I always work on little things ... my feet, my shoulder. The whole linebacking corp in general, that’s what we are working on and focus in on those fundamentals. Definitely trying to know the defense better, know what everyone is doing, because the position that we are in as leaders on the field and when you know what everyone is doing then you can be more confident during games and definitely have better results,” added the soft-spoken, but hard-hitting linebacker.

Part of the defense’s transition to consistency will come in the wake of Monken adding three new coaches to his defense. You have Chad Wilt (D-line); ShaDon Brown (Cornerbacks) & Daryl Dixon (Outside linebackers). However, Timpf and King feel that “D” will not miss a beat and of course this spring will allow the players to get accustom to the expectation and style of each of the aforementioned staff members.

“We have good coaches and Coach [Jay] Bateman (defensive coordinator) does a great job in assembling his supporting cast,” exerted King. “The attention to detail doesn’t change from coach to coach and we are trying to be champions and we are trying to win no matter who the coach is ... we are going to give it our all.”

“We definitely miss the coaches that left, but we are here and we are going to work together and we are going to work as a team.”

“Today was the first day we’ve got to see them in action,” shared Timpf in his conversation with GoBlackKnights.com. “So, it’s still like a learning process and a chance to see what their coaching techniques are. I mean, that’s just part of the job of coaching college football.”

As one of the team’s leaders and veterans, King acknowledged that there have conversation amongst some of the players regarding the team’s potential for the 2016 season?

“Oh yeah definitely,” he stated. “Our whole team in general ... we know how close we are. We are right there, we are on the cusp of being a championship team. We played really tough games against really good competition and if we put in a little more effort like now, it will pay dividends in the future.”

The Black Knights return to the field on Monday (4/4) for the 2nd practice of the spring. So, keep it right here on GoBlackKnights.com as we continue to bring you inside Army football spring practice with our comprehensive coverage.

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